Michel Hebert, QMI Agency

QUEBEC CITY - Former Quebec premier and Parti Quebecois leader Jacques Parizeau is deeply concerned over his province's deteriorating economy.

Parizeau, 83, is especially worried about the state of small and medium-sized businesses in the province, saying that a "drastic remedy" is needed to ensure their future success.

"It's the first time in 30 years that I'm so concerned about Quebec's economic future," Parizeau wrote in an opinion piece that appeared in Monday's Le Journal de Montreal.

He points to a study done by HEC, the Montreal business school. The former economist called the study "tough, but fair." He wrote that "what hits the hardest is the slow and persistent deterioration of the province's economic outlook over the last 10 to 12 years."

Parizeau believes Quebec is suffering an economic decline and implies that Premier Pauline Marois should be taking the economy more seriously.